Philosopher of Earth

+++ Canterlot +++

"WHAT?!" cried a anguished Celestia. Her eyes started to burn hotter than the sun she manifested, the guard at the foot of the throne backed away from the sudden flare of heat emanating from the normally benign princess. Her mane took on a more fiery hue.

"Your majesty... There is no possible way for him to have snuck past the spectral guards..." he stammered, clearly not wanting to be in front of the full might of the sun princess. Celestia suddenly seemed to power down, and return to normal. She took a few calming breaths

"Thank you, you may go now..." she sighed with exhaustion. She sat alone in the throne for several silent minutes. That is until Discord decided to interrupt her thoughts.

"Celestia!" he panted. "Ice! Cave! Magic! Thing! Black! Cake!" he started in a rushed shout.

"Slow down DIscord..." calmed Celestia. Discord pulled a bellow from nowhere, put it in his mouth and pumped furiously. Celestia waited. Finally DIscord seemed to calm down.

"You were right Celestia... It was there..." he stammered. Celestia seemed to recoil in her throne.

"Do you remember where it exactly was?" she asked in desperation.

"I have no idea where it exactly was... But it is opening... Of that I am extremely certain."

"Then we have no time. Discord, may I ask you to search for Void Spark in that area? He is the only one who can open it fully." Celestia said in a commanding tone. DIscord nodded and vanished in a comical pop. "Guards!" shouted Celestia. Several dozen Royal Guards rushed the room, expecting trouble. "Mobilize the army. Call up all reserve units." ordered Celestia. Several guards bowed and rushed to relay these new orders. "Gather the Bearers as well." she added. Another Guard left.

"Your majesty? What about the special case?" asked the commanding Royal Guard. Celestia had forgotten all about her in the past few days.

"Warn Silver Star, but do not muster her yet."

+++ That night +++

Ponies were marching into Canterlot by the hundreds. Wearing newly issued armor plating and carrying brand new spears. They were Equestrian Reserve Units, the ERU. Celestia wouldn't have called for them to arms if she had not felt the need. Luna sat on the balcony where she would watch the night.

"This is not good at all..." she murmured to herself.

"Indeed." said a voice behind her. Luna jumped, not expecting anyone to answer.

"Sister!" she cried when she saw who was in the room with her. Celestia was rummaging through a bookshelf. "What are you doing up so late?!"

"My armor needs new enchantments on it. I thought the book was here... Ah! here it is!" Celestia exclaimed as she pulled an ancient but well preserved book off the shelf.

"You're going to lead from the front?" asked Luna.

"Yes. It is the only way to ensure victory." stated Celestia. This was very bad indeed. Celestia wouldn't get involved unless given no choice.

"What are you afraid of?" asked Luna, Celestia had not told her lunar twin. Celestia sighed.

"Very well... A few months ago, when Void Spark began his reign of terror in Canterlot... A unanimously sent message was sent to me. It had claimed that the writer was a close associate of Void Spark. And it detailed his plan to overthrow "The Alicorn Tyrants" were the letters words. I was skeptical at first. But then he struck exactly how the letter described. To the letter. Why somepony did this, I don't have any clue. But we managed to corner him a few days ago. And that lead to the discovery of the human. You know the rest of that tale... But the final claim is that Void would open a portal far to the North of the Crystal Empire, and it would open to a plane of existence unknown to us. And an army of horror would sweep through Equestria like a farmer's scythe." Celestia stated. "I had Discord find the portal. And he confirmed that it is opening..." veered off Celestia. "War is upon us sister. And we need everything we can get our hooves on." Luna didn't know what to say. Celestia left the room to finish her preparations without a word.

"Everything?" Luna asked herself. She contemplated what that meant for a moment. Everything. Surely Celestia didn't mean THAT has well? That was a weapon that was TECHNICALLY created by Nightmare Moon... And not even Celestia could wield its power... Everything. Wait, Luna had seen only one pony with the kind of focus required to wield it. Except, he wasn't a pony.

+++ The next morning, Ponyville, Twilights Castle +++

Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy stood in front of Twilight in shock. Twilight had gone pale from reading the letter from Celestia. None of them could believe it, the letter had explained everything.

"Is she serious?!" asked Applejack.

"There's no possible way Celestia can be serious about that..." murmured Rarity. The rest were silent... Except Pinkie Pie.

"But I haven't gotten a chance to throw a 'Welcome strangealienmonkeything to Equestria' party yet!" she complained. The other five ignored her.

"Go get ready girls… Warm clothing included..." Twilight stated with grim certainty. There was nothing else to say, even Pinkie had nothing further to say. There was a threat to Equestria, and the Elements of Harmony were Equestria’s shield and sword.